Tag: travel

“The test will judge your ability to think about things other than celebrity marriages, whether you’ll be easily persuaded by empty political rhetoric; and whether you’ll be able to place your life and your community in broader context. The test will last your entire life, and it will compromised of the millions of decisions that, when taken together, make your life yours. And everything-everything-will be on it!” – John Green

Well! Life without cellphone is somehow so much better. At least I am studying more, and see awesome lecturer videos. Until I saw this awesome John Green video for one crashcourse video. Well, John Green… I think it is always easy for us to like this kind of person. He is one of my favorite (you should check him out if you haven’t know about what he done and even who is he 🙂 ).

As I told you yesterday, I just started my “Cellphone Diet”. Because this small awesome smart phone really convenient and make me addicted… and keep staring on it… and then stressed myself because it is easily accessed any social media and similar… and I keep comparing myself with other people because I felt like “WOW! Why other people is nothing but so much better than me?!” While… maybe not!

So, pfffttt…. enough. I love you my cellphone but sorry… maybe mmmm we need to make a clear distance now.

Yes! I think everyone are also struggling by their own matters, their own “test”, but somehow our “new world” is insist us to always look okay! Look cool! Look “hey, I am more than you!”. If A is success, so I need to show I do better…. if B is having a bad day, so I need to show I am worse. Wait! Oh this is crazy. Life itself, at least for me, is not a competition. Because we have different problems, different starting point, and maybe different finish line. We are just different… our task is to be nice and kind to any other people, support between each other, not goin’ crazy to compare between each other. Huffft! THAT’S TIRING!

So, stop it. And I want to stop it…. I want to quit from this crazy society game, because it becomes more like a psychological games and it feels like Jigsaw asked me “Do you want to play a game?” of course no… not kind of this “game”.

So, I challenge myself that at least within this week, when I go outside my home, I WILL NOT bring my cellphone. But I will always bring my tiny pocket camera to take pics about what I saw. Also, I will write the update every day on this blog.

So, what I got without my cellphone today.
Surprisingly, many things… and it was fun!

The sky is good, some clouds… but today was so hot and it might be one of the highest temperature during this month. Tokyo was 34C and Tsukuba was 32C. But remember, humidity! Pfffttttt…. Japan is very humid during summer and I wonder at least it is one of the main problem of all Japanese during summer. So, the real feel of the temperature were in 35-39C. That’s crazy.

Indonesia is hot, but when the humidity is high but, at least in my hometown, rainfall also very high. So, it is not really killing. Closer to equator area… of course it is also hot but it is more like “Grilling” you than “steaming” you like in Japan. So, Indonesian are still survive even if they don’t have air conditioner in their house. Mmmm… beside almost all of us also can’t afford the price hehehehe. But, it might be something you not really notice right about Indonesia. Yeah! Come to visit then.

Then, I started to wondering what’s wrong with me… why my productivity is decreased recently!?! WHY! Then I notice that one problem is MY DESK IS SO MESSY

This is important actually… if you think you become lazier recently, you should check your desk and your home first. If they are messy, it will reduce your mood to do your work.
“But, I always messy… so it might be no problem for me”
Trust me, it is one psychology research. Well… while it is not bad to make everything tidy.
Yes, put your phone for a while and do your desk.

The result, I made up my homework from my Sensei (although I haven’t finish all yet),
I learn about agricultural economics,
I learn about R programming,
Well… that’s not really bad for today.
I wrote a letter for my penpal.

On the lunch break, I took my bicycle and go around. It has been a long time since I am not hunting photos around. I am curious how to take a good photo using a low-end pocket camera. So, let’s get it on!
I took this photo today….

I think that’s one is so beautiful… I really love it.
I love the bee, the color of the flower.
So many beautiful things around, and it feels like I didn’t notice it before.

Are you feel tired to compare yourself with any other people?
You also welcome to join my diet 😀 hehehe…
I think it will be okay for the world waiting for our text reply a bit longer.

So, I decide to stop staring on my cellphone at least start from this week.
I don’t want to depend on my cellphone forever, but I think we agree it makes us addicted. I want to stop for a while, and enjoy my day. I just brought my mini pocket camera, and from now on I will take photo everyday.

I left my cellphone at my home, while I went to Saitama to practice Koto (it kinds of traditional Japanese string instrument). My teacher offered me to start my first concert next April 🙂 finger crossed, and wish me luck. I am so happy, because beside of my research life, I have another artsy life! And well… that’s not really bad I think.

Back to my place, Tsukuba. I decided to take a walk… and enjoy my Sunday afternoon.
I saw some youth are playing Stand-Up Electric Scooter. It looks so fun! I want one hahahahhaa. But already have one cute bicycle.

And I realized that Tsukuba center is so beautiful with greens everywhere. I love the scenery.

I also realized hibiscus are already fully blossomed. You should see them!

And hmmm… take a bit selfie also not a bad idea! So this is my Sunday afternoon face 😀 hahahhaa
Why some people are so good in taking selfie?! I couldn’t! And it is sad because I always tried to take a very good photo for others but I can’t to take a good selfie.

Btw, because it was cloudy… I want to 100 yen shop and bought a super bright umbrella with just 200 yen (around 2 USD), but tadaaaaa…. the rain delayed their schedule hahahhahaa. Oh come on! I already have so many umbrella now.
But I love the color hahahhha… neon color seems rare in Japan.

Good! No rain… so I could ride my bicycle. I parked it in a free bicycle parking, no wonder everyone just park their bicycle here. Almost had no idea where is mine hahhahaha.

Well, with my ride with me… I will teach you how to explore Japan a bit 🙂

If you are a student with tight budget, but you really love fashion, you can go second hand shop! Second had shop in Japan is veryyyyy gooood. They already clean all the stuff, and grade them based on the quality, brand, and the age of the stuff. So, you can find something cute by match it with your budget. One of the nice place to find second hand fashion stuff in Japan is 2nd Street: Jumble Store. You can find it anywhere around Japan.
And I was so happy because they also held summer discount! Voila!
I will show you my choice within this week, I would like to clean them up first and I will show you when I finished 🙂

After shopping, you might hungry, and I really want to eat unagi (うなぎ) or Japanese eel. It is in season now, so I should eat them! And I really love them! So, without thinking I just went to a family restaurant and ordered my favorite unagi! While waiting, I finished read another Michael Pollan books titled In Defence of Foods. I think this is the second best book from Pollan after Omnivore Dilemma. I really love Michael Pollan.

Pollan is someone who really bright and objective when talking about foods. He not forced us to be a vegetarian or become a super loyal consumer of one very very super specific products. He is not! He is a very nice writer and teacher for his reader. He just give us some tips to choose good foods. Something like:
1. Pay more, eat less–> because some high quality foods are a bit more expensive
2. Eat meals
3. Do all your eating at a table
4. Try not to eat alone
5. Eat slowly
6. cook, if you can, plant a garden

and so on… and so on… I will not reveal everything to make you curious 🙂 But really, it is very good book to real and feed your brain 😀

Well! Living without cellphone is not really bad! Don’t you think so? 😀

To be honest, I always love China town…
It is like you can find everything in China town 😀

I have an intensive class in Suzukakedai area which is very far from my house in Tsukuba. So I took a week days off from my office and decide to stay in Yokohama. What a great decision, while I really love Yokohama so much.

Yokohama always makes my camera gives its big smile. Yesterday, I spent my night to go around the Yokohama China town. I really love the light of China town on the night

Also the artsy building

Oh Gosh! I really really love it… I think it is really refresh my mind, and remind me with my hometown in Bogor, where we also have “Suryakencana”as our China town.However, Chinatown in Japan (maybe) different from any other chinatown in another country. It is very clean and tidy and I guess not as crowded and noisy as any other Chinatown in your country.

I also love to found lots of unique shop around 😀

Hahaha…it is fun, but mmm… maybe as a person who always love cute stuff, it is considered not healthy enough for my wallet hahaaha.

I don’t want to write lots of thing today. My head is full with lots of things. This Saturday, I went to Sagamiko because I want to refresh my mind and see one of the biggest illumination in Japan. And well… it is so beautiful.
I will give you a look 🙂 it is a hill full with LED light.
If you want to see more, you can visit my instagram account: @emonikova
If you need lots more, better come here 🙂
Enjoy 🙂